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Fall 2026 Undergraduate Catalog
Human Rights & Justice
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 Return to: Minors
Interdisciplinary Program in Human Rights & Justice
Director: Dr. Suzanne Velazquez, PhD, LCSW
Office: School of Social Welfare, Health Sciences Tower, Level 2, Room 093
The Interdisciplinary Minor in Human Rights & Justice (HRJ) prepares students to be ethical leaders and informed practitioners across all sectors of the modern workforce. Knowledge of human rights, and the ability to advocate for their fulfillment, is a vital competency in every discipline. This 19-credit minor provides students with the critical tools to navigate the ethical, legal, and social responsibilities inherent in their primary fields of study.
In an increasingly interconnected world, human rights literacy is essential for professional stewardship. Of interest to students majoring in:
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the Biological, Natural, and Environmental Sciences, the program provides a critical ethical framework for medicine, research, or environmental science, exploring the intersection of human rights with bioethics and the social determinants of health;
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Business, Public Policy, and related disciplines, the minor emphasizes corporate social responsibility and the impact of economic decisions on global justice;
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Communication and Journalism, the program enhances the ability to report on global issues with ethical depth;
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the Social and Behavioral Sciences, the program establishes a framework to analyze systemic justice;
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Engineering and Information Technology, the program explores the role of technology in upholding rights within the design of virtual and built environments.
Ultimately, the HRJ minor empowers students from any major to integrate a rights-based perspective into their unique professional trajectory, ensuring that regardless of the sector-from the lab to the boardroom, the newsroom to the server room-they are equipped to champion human dignity and social justice.
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Declaration of the Minor
Students are strongly encouraged to declare the Minor in Human Rights & Justice (HRJ) as early as possible, and no later than the start of their junior year, to ensure adequate sequencing and intentionality of study. - Declaration Process: Students should consult with the HRJ Program Director or Undergraduate Advisor to review the 19-credit requirement and complete the Major/Minor Declaration Form via the Registrar’s website.
- Effective Term: Because elective courses taken prior to the formal declaration of the minor are generally not applicable to the 19- credit requirement (see Intentionality of Study), early declaration is essential for timely completion.
- Eligibility Note: Students admitted into the Social Work (BSW) major are not eligible to declare the Human Rights & Justice minor. As the core principles of human rights and justice are fully integrated into the Social Work major curriculum, these students receive equivalent training through their primary degree path.
Minor Requirements
Completion of the minor requires 19 credits. As an SBU-administered program, all 19 credits must be earned in residence at Stony Brook University. All courses must be at the 200-400 level and passed with a letter grade of C or higher. 1. Foundational Core (6 credits)
2. Applied Skills & Policy (6 credits)
3. Interdisciplinary Electives (6 credits)
- Students select two approved, 3-credit electives that explore diverse perspectives of human rights application in professional and daily life.
- Major Alignment: Students are strongly encouraged to select electives from within their major department to explore the intersection of their primary field and human rights. Examples of approved alignment include: AFS 340: Human Rights in Africa, POL 310: Immigration and Refugee Policy, or EST 325: Technology in the Workplace.
- Intentionality of Study: Elective selection is an intentional process occurring after the completion of HRJ 204. Consequently, courses taken prior to declaring the minor are generally not applicable to the elective requirement, ensuring that students apply the foundational theories of HRJ 204 to their subsequent elective choices.
4. Culminating Requirement (1 credit)
Curriculum & Sequencing Notes
- Prospective Enrollment: The HRJ minor is designed as a progressive, intentional sequence. Students are expected to declare the minor early in their academic career; electives taken before the completion of HRJ 204 or before the formal declaration of the minor will not be applied toward the 19-credit requirement.
- SBC Learning Outcomes: All HRJ Core courses (HRJ 204, 248, 301, 310) are designed to fulfill various Stony Brook Curriculum (SBC) requirements. This ensures the minor is accessible and integrates with the degree progress of students in all majors.
- Residency: All 19 credits must be taken at Stony Brook University. No transfer credits or retroactive credits are accepted for the minor
- Major Integration: The minor is structured to serve as a core discipline for Multidisciplinary Studies (MD-S) majors, provides a required minor pathway for Biology majors, and may serve as an Area of Concentration for various Social Science majors.
- Eligibility Note: Students admitted into the Social Work (BSW) major are not eligible to declare the Human Rights & Justice minor. As the core principles of human rights and justice are fully integrated into the Social Work major curriculum, these students receive equivalent training through their primary degree path.
- Universal Value: Regardless of a student’s primary major, the Human Rights & Justice minor provides a distinct competitive advantage, signaling to employers and graduate programs a profound commitment to ethical practice and global social responsibility.
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Return to: Minors
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